Last updated: June 10, 2026
Armenia is a landlocked nation in the South Caucasus region of Western Asia, bordered by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. With a population of approximately 3 million, Armenia is one of the world’s oldest Christian civilizations, having adopted Christianity as its state religion in 301 CE—the first country to do so. The capital and largest city is Yerevan, located in the central part of the country. Armenia’s geography is characterized by the Armenian Highlands, a mountainous region with an average elevation exceeding 1,600 meters. The country is known for its rich cultural heritage, including ancient churches, monasteries, and archaeological sites. Armenia is a member of numerous international organizations including the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and the Eurasian Economic Union.
In the context of Groong’s coverage, Armenia is a landlocked South Caucasus republic facing an acute strategic and political crisis. Since the 2020 44-Day War , the country has lost control of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and hundreds of square kilometers of territory to Azerbaijan, undergone the complete ethnic cleansing of more than 150,000 Armenian inhabitants from Artsakh, and seen its borders redrawn under duress. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his Civil Contract party have governed through this catastrophe while pursuing what opponents describe as a capitulation strategy: signing ceasefire agreements, negotiating territorial concessions, and attempting to normalize relations with Turkey despite no reciprocal gesture. The government frames this course as realism and peace-building; critics argue it surrenders Armenian sovereignty without securing the rights or security of displaced Artsakhtsis. Armenia’s relationship with its traditional security guarantor Russia has deteriorated sharply, while its pivot toward the European Union and United States remains hesitant and incomplete, leaving the country in a precarious middle position between Moscow and the West.
Domestic politics in Armenia since 2021 have been dominated by the opposition’s demand for Pashinyan’s resignation and accountability for the war’s loss. The Established Opposition parties—Strong Armenia , Armenia Alliance (Hayastan Dashinq) , Prosperous Armenia , and the Republican Party of Armenia —have held street protests, mounted electoral challenges, and attempted to build coalitions for the June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections. Civil Contract’s supermajority in parliament has allowed it to pass constitutional amendments, strip opposition figures of immunity, and advance its agenda despite sustained criticism over corruption, misuse of administrative resources, and alleged election irregularities. The government has also escalated confrontation with the Armenian Church , arresting clergy, seizing church property, and pressuring the Catholicos , actions that have alarmed international observers and divided public opinion. Simultaneously, Pashinyan has consolidated control over state institutions, including the judiciary and security services, raising concerns about democratic backsliding and rule of law.
Armenia’s economy remains fragile. Growth statistics mask structural weaknesses: the country is heavily dependent on remittances and Russian trade, faces declining foreign investment, carries rising national debt, and has seen its ties to Iran—a key trade and energy partner—complicated by U.S. pressure over TRIPP, the so-called Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity . The project aims to open transport corridors through Armenian territory in Syunik province, a move that would connect Azerbaijan to Turkey via Armenian land and raise questions about Armenian sovereignty over the route and control of its security. Russia has shifted from enthusiastic support of the corridor to public ambivalence, while Iran has issued explicit warnings that it will not accept any arrangement that bypasses or threatens its interests. The competing pressures from Washington, Moscow, Tehran, and Baku leave Armenia’s leadership navigating impossible choices between security guarantees that do not yet exist and economic partnerships that require territorial and strategic concessions it is reluctant to make permanent. The 2026 election will determine whether Armenian voters remain committed to Pashinyan’s course or whether opposition forces can forge a unified alternative around themes of security, sovereignty, and the rights of displaced Artsakhtsis to return home.
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Armenia.
Episode 423 | Recorded: March 17, 2025
Episode 422 | Recorded: March 12, 2025
Episode 422 | Recorded: March 12, 2025
Episode 420 | Recorded: February 27, 2025
Episode 420 | Recorded: February 27, 2025
Episode 419 | Recorded: February 27, 2025
Episode 419 | Recorded: February 27, 2025
Episode 418 | Recorded: February 24, 2025
Episode 418 | Recorded: February 24, 2025
Episode 417 | Recorded: February 12, 2025
Episode 417 | Recorded: February 12, 2025
Episode 416 | Recorded: February 17, 2025
Episode 416 | Recorded: February 17, 2025
Episode 415 | Recorded: February 6, 2025
Episode 415 | Recorded: February 6, 2025
Episode 414 | Recorded: Valentineâs Day, February 14, 2025
Episode 414 | Recorded: Valentineâs Day, February 14, 2025
A New Détente? The Trump-Putin Call. Russia’s Strategic Choices. Russo-Armenian Relations. Russo-Azerbaijani Relations. Georgia’s Pragmatism.
Episode 413 | Recorded: February 11, 2025
Episode 413 | Recorded: February 11, 2025
Episode 412 | Recorded: February 9, 2025
Episode 412 | Recorded: February 9, 2025
Episode 411 | Recorded: February 6, 2025
Episode 411 | Recorded: February 6, 2025
The Ongoing conflicts: Gaza, Syria, Ukraine. Shifting Global Power and Alliances. Small Countries in a Multipolar World.
Episode 410 | Recorded: February 3, 2025
Episode 410 | Recorded: February 3, 2025
Episode 409 | Recorded: January 21, 2025
Episode 409 | Recorded: January 21, 2025
Who was Kirk Kerkorian? How Kerkorian Discovered Armenia. Investing in Armenia. End of Investments and Death of Kerkorian.
Episode 408 | Recorded: January 29, 2025
Episode 408 | Recorded: January 29, 2025
Episode 407 | Recorded: January 25, 2025
Episode 407 | Recorded: January 25, 2025
Episode 406 | Recorded: January 20, 2025
Episode 406 | Recorded: January 20, 2025
Episode 405 | Recorded: Januaqry 19, 2025
Episode 405 | Recorded: Januaqry 19, 2025
Episode 404 | Recorded: January 14, 2025
Episode 404 | Recorded: January 14, 2025
Episode 403 | Recorded: December 31, 2024
Episode 403 | Recorded: December 31, 2024
Episode 402 | Recorded: November 7, 2024
Episode 402 | Recorded: November 7, 2024
Episode 401 | Recorded: December 24, 2024
Episode 401 | Recorded: December 24, 2024
Episode 400 | Recorded: December 20, 2024
Episode 400 | Recorded: December 20, 2024
Episode 399 | Recorded: December 19, 2024
Episode 399 | Recorded: December 19, 2024
Episode 398 | Recorded: December 17, 2024
Episode 398 | Recorded: December 17, 2024
Episode 397 | Recorded: December 18, 2024
Episode 397 | Recorded: December 18, 2024
Episode 396 | Recorded: December 13, 2024
Episode 396 | Recorded: December 13, 2024
Episode 395 | Recorded: December 12, 2024
Episode 395 | Recorded: December 12, 2024